Thousands raised to pay for popular Big Issue vendor’s funeral: ‘We are better for knowing Paul’

More than £4,000 has been raised to pay for the funeral of much-loved Big Issue vendor Paul Crawford, who has been remembered for his “kindness, care and compassion”.

Crawford, 48, was found dead at his home over the New Year period and, since then, floral tributes and messages have been left on a bench on Crawford’s pitch outside Tesco in Summertown, Oxford. Crawford’s tragic death comes a year after the loss of his brother Daniel, who also sold the Big Issue magazine in Oxford.

An inquest into Crawford’s death opened last week and heard the 48 year old was found dead at his home on 2 January. A full inquest into his death will be heard at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court on 30 April.

An online fundraiser to pay for his funeral has raised £4,390 at the time of writing.

Father Gavin Knight, the vicar of St Michaels & All Angels Church in Summertown, launched the fundraiser alongside reverend Felicity Blair.

“Paul and Dan were pretty much inseparable. I first came across them when we gave them permission to camp down in the Church Hall garden because they were homeless,” Father Knight told Big Issue.

“The boys struggled to find a roof and shelter. Eventually, thanks to the impressive and generous oversight of Ian and Felicity Blair, Dan and Paul settled into a pattern of life. 

“Paul was known as the Big Issue seller and pitched his tent outside Burned Out Barbeque on the Parade. It was on the street bench where he plied his trade. This was the spot where many conversations were had. Since his sudden death the bench has been furnished with flowers and messages. Paul was known for his kindness, care and compassion. He had a wicked sense of humour and was also cared for by the Summertown shoppers.”

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A date for his funeral at St Michael & All Angels Church will be set once cremation arrangements are made.

The response to the fundraiser to pay for the cremation has been “typically generous”, Father Knight said.

Leftover funds will be donated to local Oxford homeless charities The Porch, The Gatehouse and Emmaus.

“The response was typically generous, displaying the regard which people held for Paul. His memorial will be held at St Michael & All Angels Church in Summertown where Paul’s ashes will be interred in the Remembrance Garden, laid next to his earthly companion, Danny. We are all better people for knowing Paul.”

Catherine Parsons, managing director at Big Issue, said: “We were deeply saddened to hear that Paul, a long-standing vendor in Summertown, Oxford, passed away at the end of 2025.

“Paul was an extremely well-loved vendor. We’ve been truly touched by the outpouring of tributes from his customers, and to learn of efforts to fundraise to pay for his funeral. The thoughts of everyone at the Big Issue are with Paul’s loved ones at this difficult time.”

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